title: Cholangiocarcinoma of intrahepatic bile ducts with disseminated metastases in an African lion (Panthera leo).
abstract: A cholangiocarcinoma is reported in an 18-yr-old, female African lion (Panthera leo). The primary tumor consisted of multifocal to coalescing, hepatic, white-yellow masses distributed throughout the liver lobes. Metastases were present in regional lymph nodes, peritoneal surface, and lungs. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by a tubular pattern with alcian- and periodic acid-Schiff-positive secretory material in cystic spaces. The neoplastic cells were positive to broad-spectrum cytokeratins. Histochemical and immunohistochemical stains were consistent with bile duct carcinoma. Biliary tumors arising from the gallbladder have been reported in lions. However, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma reported in an African lion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopathological Sciences and Hygiene of Animal and Food Products, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 4. 06126 Perugia, Italy. elvio.lepri@unipg.it
authors.forename: Elvio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lepri
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sforna
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brachelente
authors.forename: Brachelente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiara
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitellozzi
authors.forename: Vitellozzi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giovanni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008045:Lions; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*